Center of Gravity brings entrepreneurs, innovators together

By Andrew Beam

Sunday, May 5, 2013

TROY - Entrepreneurs, hobbyists and innovators now all have a collective space where ideas can be exchanged and resources are shared at the Center of Gravity hidden away in a nook of the Uncle Sam Parking Garage.

Equipment such as a 3D printer, laser cutters, welding and woodcutting materials could be found throughout the space, donated to them for a year by local developer David Bryce, as entrepreneur Bob Bownes spoke about how it was the first makerspace in an area that calls itself Tech Valley.

"It's a space where people come together, work on various projects and make things," Bownes said.

"Interestingly, it is the first one in Tech Valley," Anasha Cummings, advocate and systems designer at Troy Nexus, said.

"Much to everyone's surprise," Bownes said. "We went from a couple of disparate groups talking about it to opening our own space and having a grand opening in about two months."

The space itself lends to collaboration, Cummings said, where instead of having to hire a consultant to give their advice on a project, someone could just shout across the room to get the feedback they would need.

Creation of the space came from a group of Rensselaer Polytechnic alumni and those involved in the technology industry getting together to create a makerspace for younger people looking to get into the industry, according to Cummings.

Laban Coblentz, another local entrepreneur, was able to acquire the space while Bownes said he and around 40 other people were meeting at Union College but without a makerspace. Once the two parties began communicating about bringing the two groups together, Bownes said they were soon able to open their doors.

"We had an organization and a big group and they had a space," Bownes said. "We put that together and six weeks later we opened the door."

According to Coblentz, the county will be providing a consultancy in an effort to retain young innovators coming from area colleges and reimbursing the center for some items through the county Industrial Development Agency. The city will be contributing $50,000 through the Local Development Corporation.

"It's a place where people can experiment and learn from each other," said County Executive Kathy Jimino, adding she didn't mind alleviating them of some financial burdens. "If they are successful then the region will be successful."

Monica Kuzejeski, city planning and economic development coordinator, was excited at the chance for collaboration among likeminded people in the technology industry.

"It's the county, city and private all working together to help support a makerspace that has a tremendous local and regional impact to our communities and the creative class that invest in them," Kuzejeski said.

The Center of Gravity was able to raise $6,000 through publicizing the space through social media and even people coming in off the street saying their company was willing to donate money. Many of the tools within the makerspace were donated by members, purchased by members or sponsored by members, something Bownes said they may continue doing.

To have access to the space, Bownes said they offer a $30 a month membership for students, $60 a month for non-students and $100 month to have 24-hour access to the space.

Bownes said there have been several small companies to come through to begin their work there and it also has been bringing in a lot of young people sharing the same interest of inventing things and experimenting.

"This is an exciting thing to see," Bownes said. "This is a neat place where young people who have the energy, enthusiasm and the drive to make these things happen. Some of what we're trying to do here is give them some of those resources and a place to do that to make it happen."